Happy Un-birthday to you

[patriotqueen]

This had nothing to do with Guy's recent lies towards Willie. Nothing to do with baiting him into talking to a professional about the war he had been through and the nightmares and trembles he suffered. Guy was, as always, utterly unapologetic about his liberal managment of the truth. No guilt there.

So, that was not the reason Guy had decided to

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[i_am_elizabeth]

It was my mother brought me news of Mr. Burgess' engagement, and in an endeavor to be more sociable- God keep me greater company, if I'm resorted to actively seeking to become more sociable, heavens- I have decided to make an appearance, if only in hopes of some invigorating conversation with the host. I have dressed plainly, stretched a pale pink fabric with sheen to it over my existing bodice and donned the wig I wear most days, now, long and loose and more difficult to keep neat but so much less stifling than my formal Church wig I arrived in.

For the first time in... a very long time, I have foregone shoes. God, I feel positively girlish.

Hah.

[worth_having]

She was a handsome woman by right, but the firelight worked to slough away the years of a stony rule right before his eyes; she moved and Dorian followed, though his feet remained elsewhere until he could have her alone.

"And here you are, Ma'am," he greeted with a bow of his head, "Celebrating the birth and life of a simple soldier. How shall I greet you tonight?" he smiled, perhaps with an inappropriate amount of familiarity. But he did mean so very well; one could not begrudge him that.

[i_am_elizabeth]

"My country was built by simple soldiers, Mister Gray," I reply, turning where I stand to see him cast against the dark of the water and sky, illuminated by the friendly fire, "and I daresay more reigns than mine maintained by them. You may greet me however you wish," I add, "so long as you remember who I am."

I do not mean my name.

[worth_having]

A lovely sentiment, he felt, and true. He was positively enchanted, though he gave a sober nod and withheld too much enthusiasm lest he seem overeager. "You are very right to caution me, your majesty," he held out a hand for hers.

"I find that I have adjusted myself well enough to the ways here. I cannot decide if I am homesick for England or sick with too much idle time," he wondered.

[i_am_elizabeth]

It's shocking how easily and quickly my hand is lain in his. No one here asks for it, and so I never give it, but by God when a man such as Dorian beckons how is any woman to refrain.

"I shall never adjust. Even when it is old to me, it shall be far too different than what I am used to for me to... adjust."

[worth_having]

The first touch; Good Queen Bess was a woman of her age and her hand was of her own making. Dorian took the hand and kissed the smooth top, the dainty strip of skin pulled over veins and bone.

He would have kissed the underside, the fleshy part that saw and accepted work over another man's kisses, but it would have been too soon. "But you are barefoot, Ma'am," he observed, a hint of mischief in his smile. "Is this diplomacy in motion?"

[i_am_elizabeth]

"It is in fact a whole lack of it I daresay, Mister Gray." My voice is steady, my tone as strong as ever it was. The confident delicate gesture is not enough to chase my breath from me, it cannot be- I am too damned old for it. It seems age is not enough to slow a heart when it wishes to rush, though.

[worth_having]

"Then I will join you," he released her hand as he stepped out of his black loafers, "for I am feeling rather uncivilized tonight." Dorian smiled in such a way that implied a great many things, all cloaked within a veil of innocence. "What do you make of our companions, your highness?" he nodded once to the rest of the party goers.

[i_am_elizabeth]

I swear in this moment, to myself, that I shall not, absolutely, and in no way, encourage this behavior in him.

Absolutely.

"I have found no one I dislike, here. I have no enemies that I know of, and nothing that anyone wants. I have never existed in a world where my life and titles were not coveted or a dangerous affront to some faction or other. And so our companions are amusing or interesting or of no consequence at all. And the young soldier in whose name the celebration is thrown seems too dear a youth to have ever fought anyone," I sigh. "Him, I quite enjoy."

[worth_having]

"He is indeed a dear boy," Dorian replied, a certain fondness evident. "I have met many a sincere individual, but Willie is so simple as to be a great danger to himself," he observed - lightheartedly, mind, but with an obvious care for his well-being.

"It is good for him here, where the food is self-replenishing and the sovereign coin is non-existent." He paused to muster another colluding smile. "Where he might have a chance at dancing with his queen."

[i_am_elizabeth]

"Don't be ridiculous, Dorian," I drawl, smiling more broadly than I mean to, "a man that dear even if so young I would never turn down for a volta."

[worth_having]

Dorian laughed, seemingly pleasantly surprised by such a declaration, and also emboldened. He did seem to forget himself as he replied, "Ah, but the next question becomes: would you dance with a man such as I?"

[i_am_elizabeth]

"That depends entirely on if you are any good," I tell him, canting my head to one side with an upward tilt of my chin.

Would I? Indeed I would. Indeed. Which should be reason enough to restrain myself from doing so.

[worth_having]

"Oh, I could not say," Dorian modestly replied. "I find bravado almost as feckless as flattery. Surely only a demonstration would do, but alas," he gestured to the open fire and milling people whose talk filled a void in the air where a tune might have been more welcome, "We have no music, your majesty."

[i_am_elizabeth]

"True. There are certainly those things I miss having ready at my command," I say, smiling barely to think of it, feeling what is now a familiar pang at the thought of all the sheer distance between myself and my home.

[patriotqueen]

"Good evening, Ma'm," Guy greeted with a charming smile, when he saw the former ruler of his nation in plain woman's clothing. And no shoes! Surely there was something in the protocol forbidding the bold display of naked feet, even in bed.

"The Island's fashion is most becoming of you." In fact, she looked almost human.